Social Stratification-Discussion 6 - Essay Example

Sociology Discussion 6: Social Stratification Q What are “hegemonic masculinity” and “subordinate masculinity”? And how are they related?Hegemonic masculinity is one of the dominant forms of masculinity in most societies today. Most cultures value it, than the other forms of masculinity and its characteristics include a man being physically strong, knows how to suppress emotions and heterosexual. Therefore, it remains as a cultural representation of masculinity because it is powerful, even though it is vulnerable to ambiguity and confusion.

As noted by Clifford Leek, masculinity is experienced and seen by different individuals differently. Most notably this form of masculinity does not necessarily entail the man having more power physically, but based on the things which are used to sustain the men in power (Leek, 2015). Subordinate masculinity is usually associated with men who are gay. In this form of masculinity, men become the sexual objects and their gayness linked to what most people link to femininity. In this form, the men exhibit what the society sees as physical weakness and too expressive when it comes to their emotions.

Based on the qualities highlighted, it is evident that in subordinate masculinity the men do not exhibit the masculinity that gets exhibited in hegemonic masculinity.Q. 2. How can statuses lead to segregation?Statuses lead to segregation because they all some with different people who have different roles and levels of power. For example, some of those people who are powerful feel that they cannot share some of their privileges because they have earned for them through hard work. There are also those who believe they are of better socio-economic or racial status and would not want have their privileges share by others who are not like them.

In all these cases, they all come as a result of what people own, whether it is the assets, power, the influence or the money that they possess. In addition, people from different social economic, cultural or racial backgrounds believe segregation will continue to thrive. This is because they will be the driving force behind it without even realizing it.ReferenceLeek, C. (2013). “Whiter Shades of Pale: On the Plurality of Whiteness.” In M. Kimmel and A. Ferber (Eds.), Privilege: A Reader (3rd Edition) (211-225)